Marco Canora And Paul Grieco Find A Space Worthy To Call Hearth

Marco Canora, Chef at Craft and Paul Grieco, former Beverage Director and Service Director at Gramercy Tavern have come together to create a restaurant called Hearth. The restaurant will feature seasonal American cuisine with Italian influences. Hearth is scheduled to open in November 2003 at 403 East 12th Street on First Avenue in the East Village.

Paul and Marco met eight years ago at Gramercy Tavern when Paul was a captain and Marco a line cook. Eventually, Paul was promoted to beverage director and Marco moved up to sous chef. They had much in common and kept up their friendship while Marco apprenticed at Cibreo in Florence, Italy and during his latest post as Chef at Craft. In addition to sharing ideas about food, wine and hospitality, Paul and Marco share the old school experience: each learned their trade first at home and later on the job. Soon enough, they were planning to open a restaurant together.

Paul comes from a restaurant family in Toronto, Canada where he learned about hospitality and service from his father and grandfather in their restaurant, La Scala. Likewise, from his mother, a first-generation Italian, Marco picked up Italian cooking and the importance of using fresh ingredients. These early experiences and their continued training at restaurants such as Gramercy Tavern and Craft helped Paul and Marco form their concept for Hearth.

From his years working with Tom Colicchio, at Craft and Craftbar, Marco thrives on preparing sophisticated yet uncomplicated dishes using only the highest quality seasonal ingredients. Appetizers this fall will include Roasted diver scallops with parsnip and bacon and Black cabbage, vegetable and white bean soup. Main courses will feature Salt roasted chicken, ravioli nudi, and swiss chard and Duck pappardelle with black olives and red wine.

The Pastry Chef will be Lauren Dawson, former pastry sous chef at Craft.
Some desserts include Huckleberry pie with lemon cream and Quince ginger cake with buttermilk ice cream.

For the wine program, Paul will handpick exciting wines from interesting producers, offering them at value-oriented prices. Together with great wine knowledge, the staff at Hearth will provide diners with highly skilled yet unpretentious service.

The architecture and design, by Bentel & Bentel of Locust Valley, New York, will combine natural materials such as cherry, copper, and slate to create a warm, simple, glowing room called Hearth.